If you were to find yourself in an emergency or a zombie situation, finding clean drinking water would be your first priority. Here’s an easy, effective way to build a water purifier in an apocalyptic pinch!
16
EMERGENCY WATER FILTER
SKILL LEVEL:
EASY
INTERMEDIATE
ADVANCED
APPROXIMATE TIME:
90 minutes
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
+ 3 empty water bottles
+ 3 pie tins
+ Strainer (optional)
+ Charcoal
+ Brick (optional)
+ Sand
+ Paper towel
LET’S BEGIN
SETUP
1. Separate your sand by pouring it into a container with some water. Mix together; the larger rocks will sink to the bottom and the sand and clay will stay on top. You could also use a strainer. Place the strained sand in one of the tin pans.
2. Use something heavy, like a brick, to crush your charcoal into a fine powder. The finer your charcoal, the better the filter will work.
ASSEMBLING THE FILTER
1. Cut the bottom off a clear water bottle. Press a piece of paper towel into the top, near the cap opening, to catch everything. You can also use a bit of your shirt, a sock, or any kind of cloth that can hold the charcoal in place.
2. Begin adding the filter materials, from fine to coarse: a few inches of charcoal powder, as much of the fine sand as you can pack in, and finally a nice top layer of small pebbles to keep the water from splashing out.
3. To go one step further, cut the bottom of the bottle into a square to make a baffle, which is a wall or screen, to stick on top of the pebbles. This will help to control the water flow and reduce erosion.
ALWAYS A WAY TO UPGRADE:
This is a very basic-style filter and there are plenty of variations and small adjustments to make it even more efficient. For example:
+ Layer the charcoal and the sand in an alternating pattern, as many layers as you want.
+ Cut the water bottle in half, and use the top part of it to form the filter and the bottom to form a cup.
USING THE FILTER
1. Collect some scummy pond water to use as a test subject.
2. The first tool in your filtration arsenal is gravity. Let your water sit for a few hours, allowing most of the larger organic material to sink to the bottom. Transfer the clear liquid to another container, leaving the sediment behind.
3. Pour the water into the filter. It may take about forty-five minutes for the water to work its way through.
4. After the water passes through the filter, it should look clear and refreshing. However, don’t drink it until you sterilize it. This can be done for four minutes in a microwave, but there are dozens of other methods like water purification tablets or even setting your water out in the sunlight for twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
PRO TIP: Once you’re an expert, you could collect the scummiest water from a pond, and after filtering and purifying it, drink a whole glass and live to tell the tale. You’re now able to turn contaminated water into a hydrating liquid that might just save your life.
FUN FACT: The human body is 60 percent water, which means it’s the major component of most body parts like your brain, heart, skin, and muscles. Even your bones are 30 percent water.
